Technical Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to find out if food parenting practices show promise for positively influencing child dietary intake. However, it is unclear what factors motivate parents to engage in vegetable parenting practices. We developed a Model of Goal Directed Vegetable Parenting Practices (MGD-VPP), and used qualitative methods to explore parents’ attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, positive and negative anticipated emotions, and habit related to VPP by parents of pre-school aged children. Semi-structured intensive interviews were conducted over the telephone by trained study staff following standard procedures and scripts. Calls were audio-recorded, transcribed, and checked for accuracy by the interviewers. A codebook was constructed and QSR NVivo 8.0 used to facilitate data coding, retrieval, and analysis. Fifteen parents (5 AA, 5 White, 5 Hispanic) completed the interview. Improved health and energy, good behavior, setting a good example, weight management, and meeting nutrition guidelines were cited as reasons why child vegetable consumption was important. VPPs used to increase intake were bribery or force, hiding vegetables in other foods, changing preparation methods, or increasing availability/ accessibility. Parents attributed preferences, preparation skills, availability, family and friends’ opinions, and cost as major influences on their use of VPP. Parents reported positive (excitement, happiness) and negative emotions (frustration, disappointment) in response to hypothetical child consumption scenarios. Parents stated the importance of vegetable consumption, yet almost all reported their child did not meet nutrition guidelines. Parents reported many barriers to regular consumption as well as some solutions, and appeared to need guidance on how to implement VPP to improve intake.